1) What is the goal of this chapter?
- To show how you can integrate environment, rules, and procedures to have a smooth and effective learning environment
2) What are some "take-away's" I can use in my own teaching?
- Sending an email to students & their families before school starts can make students feel welcomed
- Posting class information outside the door helps students not feel lost
- Greeting students at the door on the first day is a good way to make them feel welcome
- Stating my expectations on the first day is important
- Outlining/scripting can help the first day go smoothly
- Arranging the seating communicates expectations to students
- Having an activity ready (e.g. bell ringer) for students when they enter your room helps keep things on track and posting assignments in the same place helps build trust.
- Starting class with a roll call could be a bad idea--start off with an assignment instead. Take roll on your own time
- Explaining that broken rules will be followed by consequences, not punishments.
- Part of effective management is keeping students on task at all times AND getting them acquainted with the proper procedures.
- Having advanced work ready is a good way to prevent wasted off-task time
- Utilizing a silent-system for getting attention or having the class get quiet looks very useful (e.g. cups, standing books up, signaling with fingers)
- Handling transitions is very important and giving students a "heads-up" can help this go smoothly